Olivia, a 44-year-old with cerebral palsy, faces challenges related to movement and balance, requiring her to use a motorized wheelchair. Her father said, “My daughter is incredibly resilient. The challenges she has faced, along with her positive attitude, are truly remarkable. She has missed out on many experiences due to her disabilities, which have prevented her from participating in activities like hunting with the family.”
The family has a cherished tradition: every year, the family member who successfully bags a turkey has their turkey served at Thanksgiving dinner.
Last Christmas, Olivia’s brother Aaron surprised her with the news that she was going turkey hunting. “At first, I thought it was a joke because I had never been hunting,” Olivia recalls. “But then I knew it was real when he gave me a camouflage hat, high-end hand warmers, and gear to go into the woods for this experience.”
Her mother added, “When Olivia received her Christmas gift, there wasn’t a dry eye in our family.”
Aaron shared on the opening morning of the hunt, “We had been sitting in the blind for about 10-15 minutes when Marlon said, ‘We got turkeys.’ Sure enough, about 300 yards away, we saw a few turkeys come out of the woods and into an open field. At first, there were 3 to 4 hens, and then we saw three toms strutting. Everyone was excited because the birds were there. I called a little bit, and the hens yelped back. We knew it was go-time. We got into position in the blind, and at that moment, I felt as though the hand of God was guiding the turkeys directly towards us.”
Aaron continued as the turkeys came closer, “Three hens crested the hill, followed by four more, and then additional hens. Then the toms spotted the jake decoy, sped up, cut in front, and angled towards it. I was focused on the screen on the shooting device to get it lined up for Olivia to shoot, so I wasn’t paying attention to the number of birds there. It took a couple of tries to adjust the gun just right for the shot. Since the tom was moving, there was a tense moment as I worked to line everything up.”
When they had the gun aimed at the bird, Aaron instructed Olivia to shoot. Instead, she accidentally blew on the straw instead of sucking on it. Marlin laughed, saying, “And the gun didn’t go off.” Aaron then asked Olivia to wait while he readjusted the gun. This time, she sucked on the straw and made a perfect shot, and dropped a 26-pound turkey with a 9 1/2-inch beard and 1-inch spurs.
Olivia exclaimed, “I had turkey fever! I was so excited that I thought I had missed it, but I actually got it. I didn’t expect to get my bird so early in the hunt. I thought it would be around mid-afternoon. I could hear my mother’s voice saying, ‘You better get your bird today, on Saturday, because the weather is going to be awful on Sunday.’ So, I went for it and got it the first time!”
Aaron shared, “We were all excited, very excited. I’m sure the neighbors for miles could hear us hooting and hollering; we were louder than the shotgun blast. Hugs from everyone surrounded her because we were so happy for her.”
Her mother received a text from her husband saying, “We are heading back to the clubhouse because it’s dead quiet here.” She knew he wouldn’t use the phrase “dead quiet” unless it meant something significant, which gave her confidence that Olivia had gotten her bird. She was overjoyed later to receive pictures of Olivia with her turkey and the group.
Reflecting on the moment, Aaron said, “Thinking about standing around her bird, all of us happy and high-fiving, gives me goosebumps.”
Olivia said, “I saw many turkeys for the first time. I could hear them gobbling, and it was very exciting. Eventually, I could shoot the gun and get the tom I wanted. I was very happy and impressed. With a big smile, she concluded, ‘My turkey will be on the table this year at Thanksgiving!'”
Aaron expressed, “We were all thrilled when Olivia got the turkey, and our support for her meant everything. Even though we had just met Marlin and Mark the day before the hunt, their excitement matched ours. This hunt was only possible because of their preparation and effort.”
Indeed, this Thanksgiving will have a special significance in their family as they recall their time in the outdoors.
Congratulations to Olivia for successfully bagging a nice turkey. Special thanks to Marlin Marks and Mark Czaikowski for their dedication in mentoring her first hunt. God bless!
If you are interested in getting involved, know of a deserving adult, youth, or veteran, please contact us at [email protected].